2022 Postdoctoral in Chemistry (Identified Role - Indigenous) (Start ASAP)

Acknowledgement of Country

CSIRO acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land, sea and waters, of the area that we live and work on across Australia. We acknowledge their continuing connection to their culture and pay our respects to their Elders past and present. View our vision towards reconciliation

The Opportunity

• Do you have a PhD in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, natural product chemistry or pharmacology?
• Keen to be involved in projects such as Australian native plant extraction and investigation?
• Join CSIRO – Australia’s leading scientific research organisation!

CSIRO Early Research Career (CERC) Postdoctoral Fellowships provide opportunities to scientists and engineers who have completed their doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) and have less than three years of relevant postdoctoral work experience. These fellowships aim to develop the next generation of future leaders of the innovation system.

CSIRO Manufacturing is seeking to appoint a CERC Fellow into the Biomedical Manufacturing Program, who will draw on their chemistry skills to help solve problems. The CERC Fellow will typically focus on the areas of natural products or medicinal chemistry, but there is scope to develop new project areas that align with the interests of the Program.

Biomedical Manufacturing focuses on growing the Australian biomedical industry through innovative research. Within the program, the Bioactive Small Molecules and Polymer Group, includes teams with skills across the following domains:

• Drug Discovery Chemistry
• Botanical Pharmaceuticals
• Chemical Process Development
• Polymers and Drug Delivery
• Biomedical Scaffolds

As part of our growth strategy, we will work with the CERC Fellow to strategically align their experience, skills, and expertise with our focus areas. This could involve projects such as:

• Australian native plant extraction and investigation – co-developed with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups to create valuable Indigenous controlled intellectual property.
• Developing next generation antibiotic, antiviral or anticancer medicines through rational drug design, structure activity relationships or fragment-based approaches.

Your duties will include:

• Applying organic, natural product and/or medicinal chemistry to develop projects relevant to the Biomedical Manufacturing program.
• Carrying out innovative, impactful research of strategic importance to CSIRO that will, where possible, lead to novel and important scientific outcomes.
• Under limited supervision, planning, proposing and performing experiments to synthesise and/or isolate organic compounds.
• Where relevant, utilising methods to purify compounds (e.g. column chromatography and HPLC).
• Utilising characterisation methods to elucidate the structure of organic compounds (e.g. nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry).

Tenure: Specified term of 3 years

Reference:  84938

To be considered you will need:

• A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, natural product chemistry or pharmacology. Please note: To be eligible for this role you must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of postdoctoral research experience.
• Demonstrated experience in the isolation and characterisation of organic molecules using techniques such as NMR, chromatography, MS, HPLC.
• Demonstrated creativity and problem-solving skills in chemistry.

For full details about this role please view the Position Description on our website.

Eligibility

CSIRO considers the filling of this position is intended to constitute a special/equal opportunity/affirmative measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). 

The position is therefore only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people with Australian Citizenship. The successful applicant will be required to provide evidence to confirm that they are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

The successful applicant will be required to provide contact details of at least one Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Cultural Referee to confirm their ability to work and communication respectfully with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Appointment to this role is subject to provision of a national police check and may be subject to other security/medical/character requirements.

Flexible Working Arrangements

We work flexibly at CSIRO, offering a range of options for how, when and where you work. 

Diversity and Inclusion

We are working hard to recruit people representing the diversity across our society, and ensure that all our people feel supported to do their best work and feel empowered to let their ideas flourish. 

About CSIRO

At CSIRO Australia's national science agency, we solve the greatest challenges through innovative science and technology. We put the safety and wellbeing of our people above all else and earn trust everywhere because we only deal in facts. We collaborate widely and generously and deliver solutions with real impact. 

Join us and start creating tomorrow today!

How to Apply

Please apply online and provide a cover letter and CV that best demonstrate your motivation and ability to meet the requirements of this role.